He was surprised when his friend suddenly drew the horse up sharply, and after a moment's pause began to back him, cramp the wheels of the buggy and then skilfully, in the almost profound darkness, turn the vehicle and horse completely round to the opposite direction.
"Then you are not going over the bridge ?" said Blandford.
Demorest made an imperative gesture of silence.

The tumultuous rush and roar of swollen and rapid water came from the darkness behind them.
"There's been another break-out somewhere, and I reckon the bridge has got all it can do to-night to keep itself out of water without taking us over.

At least, as I promised to set you down at your wife's door inside of the hour, I don't propose to try." As the horse now travelled more easily with the wind behind him, Demorest, dismissing abruptly all other subjects, laid his hand with brusque familiarity on his companion's knee, and as if the hour for social and confidential greeting had only just then arrived, said: "Well, Neddy, old boy, how are you getting on ?" "So, so," said Blandford, dubiously.

"You see," he began, argumentatively, "in my business there's a good deal of competition, and I was only saying this morning--" But either Demorest was already familiar with his friend's arguments, or had as usual exhausted his topic, for without paying the slightest attention to him, he again demanded abruptly, "Why don't you go to California?
Here everything's played out.

That's the country for a young man like you--just starting into life, and without incumbrances.